Influenza A: Student is country’s first case

PUTRAJAYA: The country’s first case of influenza A has been detected after a student, who returned from the United States, tested positive for the virus at Sungai Buloh Hospital yesterday morning.

The 21-year-old had boarded a Malaysia Airlines flight MH091 from Newark, US and reached the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on May 13.

He experienced fever, sore throat and body aches on Thursday and was warded at the Sungai Buloh Hospital on the same day at 6.45pm.

The student is in an isolated ward and is receiving anti-viral treatment.

His five family members have been quarantined at home.

There were 199 passengers and cabin crew onboard the flight but it could not be ascertained how many disembarked at the KLIA as the flight’s final destination was Indonesia.

Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Kong Cho Ha, who is the acting health minister, said all passengers and cabin crew onboard the flight should contact the ministry at 03-88810200 or 03-88810300 .

Kong said the ministry was trying to trace all passengers who disembarked here.

“If our health officials find it necessary, they might even have to be quarantined to make sure the virus is contained. They will remain under quarantine for at least a week.”

He said there was no need to panic as the situation was under control.

Dr Ismail yesterday said that those who have returned from the affected countries should not hesitate to see a doctor if they were experiencing flu-like symptoms.

“As of May 14, the ministry’s crisis preparedness and response centre had received 11 notifications of people being admitted into hospitals with flu symptoms after visiting some of these countries. All tested negative.”

He said that 20 thermal scanners have been installed at entry points nationwide and 9,324 individuals from affected countries have been scanned as of Thursday. The case has made Malaysia the 36th country to be affected by the virus